Tennessee Williams’s Female Characters: Problems of Gender and Sexuality

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Cognitive and Gender-Specific Approach to Characterization in Drama
• Homosexuality in 20th Century American Literature
  • Gay Writing
  • Queer Reading of Tennessee Williams's Drama
    • Williams's Female Characters
    • Explicitness and Themes
• Gender and Sexuality: Characterizing Blanche DuBois and Laura Wingfield
  • Gay Themes
  • Character Constellation
  • Gender Roles
• Conclusion
• Works Cited

Objectives and Key Themes

This bachelor thesis aims to analyze the female characters of Tennessee Williams's plays from a gay studies perspective. It investigates how Williams's own homosexuality and the social context of the time might have influenced his portrayal of women. The paper explores the potential connection between female characters and themes of homosexuality in Williams's work, particularly focusing on Blanche DuBois from A Streetcar Named Desire and Laura Wingfield from The Glass Menagerie.

• The impact of gender and sexuality on characterization in drama
• The representation of homosexuality in 20th-century American literature
• The potential for reading Williams's female characters through a queer lens
• The relationship between Williams's personal life and his creative work
• The analysis of themes, character constellations, and gender roles in selected plays.

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the analysis by introducing the key focus on Tennessee Williams's female characters and their potential connection to themes of homosexuality. It outlines the goals and methodology of the thesis, highlighting the importance of considering both cognitive and gender-specific approaches to characterization.
• Cognitive and Gender-Specific Approach to Characterization in Drama: This chapter delves into the theoretical framework for understanding characterization in drama. It explores how readers perceive fictional characters as real people and how social schemata influence their interpretation. The chapter introduces the concept of “cognitive stylistic” methods and the role of gender in characterization.
• Homosexuality in 20th Century American Literature: This chapter provides context by discussing the historical and social landscape surrounding homosexuality in 20th-century American literature. It explores the challenges faced by queer writers in addressing homosexuality in their work and the impact it had on both queer and non-queer readers.
• Gender and Sexuality: Characterizing Blanche DuBois and Laura Wingfield: This chapter is dedicated to the in-depth analysis of two of Williams's most famous female characters. It examines their characteristics, relationships, and interactions within the context of the plays. The chapter focuses on identifying potential connections between their portrayals and themes of homosexuality.

Keywords

This thesis explores the intersection of gender, sexuality, and characterization in the works of Tennessee Williams. Key concepts include gay writing, queer reading, female characters, character constellation, gender roles, and the gay experience. The analysis focuses on the influence of Williams's personal life on his work and the potential for reading his female characters through a lens of homosexual identity.